Before the Atlanta race, Chase Briscoe summed up his team’s situation perfectly: “It’s just a matter of doing it consistently.” But for Briscoe and his Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) team, the curse that has plagued them for the past few years still hangs over their heads. Despite occasional glimpses of success, SHR has struggled to stay on top. Briscoe’s surprising win at Darlington gave them a brief moment of glory, but things have quickly taken a turn for the worse—and Kyle Larson may be the one to blame.
Kyle Larson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, came into the Atlanta race sitting at the top of the points standings. However, in a rush to gather speed and maintain his lead, Larson lost control of his No. 5 Chevy. In doing so, he caused a collision with Briscoe, leaving both drivers spinning and severely impacting Briscoe’s chances of securing a championship.
Briscoe had just revived SHR’s hopes with his win at Darlington, a victory that snapped his two-year-long losing streak and gave his team renewed energy. That win, in a crown jewel race, was a big deal for both Briscoe and SHR. It felt like the beginning of a championship push that could turn their luck around. But the chaos at Atlanta, especially the wreck caused by Larson, may have crushed those dreams.
Four laps before the end of Stage 1, Larson was running in third place when his car snapped loose on a turn. He tried to regain control, but the car slammed into the SAFER barrier, and before Briscoe could avoid him, he collided with Larson’s car. Both drivers spun out, and their race hopes went up in smoke. Larson finished 37th, and Briscoe 38th, each earning only a single point from the race. This crash didn’t just ruin their performance at Atlanta—it had serious playoff implications as well.
At the time, Larson was still 15 points above the playoff cut, but Briscoe’s situation became much more dangerous. He dropped to 16th, the last spot on the playoff grid, and found himself 21 points behind Ty Gibbs. With only a few races left before the Round of 16 eliminations, Briscoe’s playoff chances now look bleak. Three drivers will be cut from the playoffs after Bristol, and unless Briscoe can pull off another miracle win, he may be one of them.
Briscoe acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying, “You are hanging on for sure… we are on pins and needles.” He added that winning is now the only way to save his playoff hopes. “We just have to go win. That’s what we had to do at Darlington, and I know we’re capable of doing it again,” Briscoe said, looking ahead to Watkins Glen and Bristol.
Even though Larson’s wreck threw a wrench in Briscoe’s plans, the SHR team remains hopeful. Their determination, combined with Briscoe’s recent Darlington win, has shown that they’re not going down without a fight. Despite the tough situation, Briscoe and his team have proven they can perform under pressure. With SHR set to close down soon, Briscoe and his crew are driven by the desire to bring one last championship to the team.
Tony Stewart, the team owner, revealed in May that SHR is on its last legs, and since then, things have been tough inside the organization. Many of the team’s employees don’t know what the future holds for them, and uncertainty looms large. However, despite these challenges, the SHR crew has continued to work hard. Briscoe’s Darlington win was a testament to their grit and determination, providing a glimmer of hope for the team and its fans.
Briscoe emphasized this determination heading into Atlanta, saying, “If anything, that’s what makes us even more scary, truthfully. We all have a chip on our shoulder to prove to the world that we can do it… No other team can relate to what we’re going through, and that kind of makes us different.” For SHR, this sense of urgency and the drive to prove themselves is what fuels their efforts. They know they’re running out of time, but that pressure seems to push them to perform at their best.
As the NASCAR season heads toward its final stages, it’s clear that Briscoe and SHR are up against tough odds. The playoff field is tightening, and mistakes like Larson’s can have costly consequences. However, if there’s one thing Briscoe has proven, it’s that he’s capable of rising to the occasion when it matters most. The Atlanta crash may have made the road to the playoffs even more difficult, but Briscoe’s determination—and the unwavering support of his team—could still lead to a dramatic comeback.
In NASCAR, anything can happen. And for Briscoe and SHR, that unpredictability might just be what keeps their championship hopes alive.
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